Charging method, charging controller, charging system, and storage medium

Abstract

The application provides a charging method, a charging controller, a charging system and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: a mobile terminal of a charging user acquires a device identifier of a target charging pile, and communicates with a cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to acquire a latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and send a first instruction for indicating confirmation of starting charging at the latest charging rate to the cloud server; the cloud server sends charging order information to the target charging pile when the first instruction is received, and the charging order information is used at least for indicating the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate; the target charging pile starts charging after receiving the charging order information, and generates order settlement information according to the latest rate after the charging is completed, so that the charging user settles the fee according to the order settlement information. The application can guarantee the reliability of user charging.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of charging pile control technology, and in particular to a charging method, a charging controller, a charging system and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] As the number of new energy electric vehicles continues to increase, the number of charging stations is also growing. In actual operation, charging stations may experience temporary short-term offline situations due to network operator maintenance, expired IoT outages, or other reasons.

[0003] However, most existing charging stations rely on cloud servers for billing during actual operation, and the charging stations stop charging when offline, which cannot meet users' charging needs. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides a charging method, a charging controller, a charging system, and a storage medium to solve the problem that existing charging piles mostly rely on cloud servers for billing during actual operation, and the charging piles stop charging when offline, thus failing to meet users' charging needs.

[0005] Firstly, this application provides a charging method, which may include:

[0006] The charging user's mobile terminal obtains the device identifier of the target charging pile and communicates with the cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and sends a first instruction to the cloud server to indicate and confirm that charging will start at the latest charging rate.

[0007] The mobile terminal obtains the network status of the target charging pile and establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile when it is offline, so that the target charging pile and the cloud server can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal.

[0008] When the cloud server receives the first instruction, it sends charging order information to the target charging pile. The charging order information is used to instruct the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate.

[0009] After receiving the charging order information, the target charging station starts charging and generates order settlement information based on the latest rate after charging is completed, so that the charging user can settle the fee according to the order settlement information.

[0010] In one possible implementation, the charging order information includes the charging user's current account balance. During the charging process at the target charging station, the method further includes:

[0011] The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and sends a first prompt message to the cloud server when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference.

[0012] Upon receiving the first notification message, the cloud server sends the first recharge notification message to the mobile terminal, updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0013] The first prompt message indicates that the current account balance of the charging user is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

[0014] In one possible implementation, the charging order information includes the charging user's current account balance. When the target charging station is offline and the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging station, the method further includes:

[0015] Within the preset charging time, the target charging pile predicts the theoretical charging amount for the user. If the current account balance is less than the theoretical charging amount, a second prompt message is sent to the cloud server via the mobile terminal.

[0016] When the cloud server receives the second notification message, it sends a second recharge notification message to the mobile terminal, updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0017] The second prompt message indicates that the user's current account balance is insufficient, and the second recharge prompt message suggests that the user recharge their account balance to at least the theoretical full amount.

[0018] In one possible implementation, the target charging station predicts the theoretical charge amount for the user within a preset charging time, including:

[0019] The target charging station predicts the theoretical charging amount of the user based on the rate of increase of the charging current within a preset time period, and calculates the theoretical full charge amount for the user based on the latest charging rate and the theoretical charging amount.

[0020] In one possible implementation, the charging order information includes the charging user's current account balance. Before the target charging station starts charging, the method also includes:

[0021] The cloud server predicts the estimated charging amount for a user based on their historical charging information. If the user's current account balance is less than the estimated charging amount, the server sends a third recharge prompt to the mobile terminal and updates the charging order information after the user recharges.

[0022] The third recharge prompt message is used to suggest that users recharge their account balance to at least the estimated full amount.

[0023] In one possible implementation, the charging order information includes the charging user's current account balance. When the target charging station starts charging and is offline, the method further includes:

[0024] The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a second preset difference, it controls itself to charge the user's vehicle at offline power, which is less than the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0025] In one possible implementation, after the target charging station controls itself to charge the user's vehicle at offline power, the method further includes:

[0026] After determining that the target charging pile has resumed online status, it sends the first notification message to the cloud server.

[0027] Upon receiving the first notification message, the cloud server sends a first recharge notification message to the mobile terminal. After the charging user recharges, the server updates the charging order information and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile. The first notification message indicates that the charging user's current account balance is insufficient, and the first recharge notification message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

[0028] After receiving the updated charging order information, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is not less than the second preset difference, the target charging pile will control itself to charge the user's vehicle at normal power. Normal power is the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0029] Secondly, this application provides a charging device, comprising:

[0030] The first control module is used to control the mobile terminal of the charging user to obtain the device identifier of the target charging pile and communicate with the cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and send a first instruction to the cloud server to indicate and confirm that charging is started at the latest charging rate.

[0031] The second control module is used to control the mobile terminal to obtain the network status of the target charging pile and to establish near-field communication with the target charging pile when the target charging pile is offline, so that the target charging pile and the cloud server can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal.

[0032] The third control module is used to control the cloud server to send charging order information to the target charging pile when it receives the first instruction. The charging order information is used to instruct the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate.

[0033] The fourth control module is used to control the target charging pile to start charging after receiving the charging order information, and to generate order settlement information according to the latest rate after charging is completed, so that the charging user can settle the fee according to the order settlement information.

[0034] Fourthly, this application provides a charging controller, including a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program that can run on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the charging method as described in any of the possible implementations of the first and / or second aspects above.

[0035] Fourthly, this application provides a charging system including the charging controller described in the fourth aspect above.

[0036] In a sixth aspect, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the charging method as described in any of the possible implementations of the first and / or second aspects above.

[0037] This application provides a charging method, a charging controller, a charging system, and a storage medium. It settles charging fees for users through a target charging pile, offering virtually no delay compared to cloud server settlement, resulting in more reliable fee payments. Furthermore, when the target charging pile is offline, it and the cloud server can communicate via a mobile terminal to ensure that user order settlement information is promptly synchronized to the cloud server. This avoids the problem of the charging pile being unable to function or settle payments when offline for short periods, improving the reliability of the charging pile and guaranteeing the charging needs of users. Attached Figure Description

[0038] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0039] Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the implementation of the charging method provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the charging device provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the charging controller provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0042] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0044] Currently, in actual operation, charging piles may experience temporary offline status for a few hours due to various conditions such as network operator maintenance or IoT outages.

[0045] Existing charging stations mostly rely on cloud servers for billing during actual operation, and charging stops when the stations are offline, failing to meet users' charging needs. To address these issues, this application provides a charging method. A detailed description follows.

[0046] See Figure 1 The diagram illustrates the implementation flowchart of the charging method provided in this application embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, a charging method may include S101 to S104.

[0047] S101, the charging user's mobile terminal obtains the device identifier of the target charging pile and communicates with the cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and sends a first instruction to the cloud server to indicate and confirm that charging will start at the latest charging rate.

[0048] This application primarily applies to the charging process of new energy electric vehicles. Most charging users are owners of these vehicles. In certain scenarios, such as when users are shopping, going to work, or when their electric vehicle's battery is low, they typically park their vehicles at locations with charging stations to facilitate charging and ensure sufficient battery power.

[0049] The target charging station is the charging station where the user will be charging. The target charging station's identification can be displayed via a QR code on the station itself. The mobile device can be a smartphone, smartwatch, or other smart network device with QR code scanning capabilities.

[0050] When charging is needed, users use their mobile devices to scan the QR code on the target charging station via an app or WeChat to establish a communication connection with the charging station via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The QR code on the target charging station contains its identification information, such as its ID number, location, and connection information to its cloud server.

[0051] By scanning the QR code on the charging station, a mobile device can establish a network connection with the cloud server to which the charging station belongs, based on the station's identification information. This allows charging users to access the cloud server via their mobile devices. The cloud server is a server provided by the charging station manufacturer for storing data and facilitating data exchange.

[0052] The target charging station can be located in various places such as shopping malls, underground parking garages, and above-ground parking lots. The target charging station may have a QR code, barcode, or serial number to identify the device. In this embodiment, the target charging station has a unique QR code.

[0053] Specifically, charging users can log in to their personal account on a charging app on their mobile device, scan the QR code on the charging station using the app to obtain the current charging station's identity information, and establish a communication connection with the cloud server based on this identity information. The cloud server can store relevant charging information for the user, such as account balance, vehicle model, and historical charging information.

[0054] In addition, charging users can register in advance on their mobile devices to generate a personal account that identifies them. The cloud server can then identify the personal account to confirm the charging user's identity.

[0055] After the mobile terminal establishes a connection with the cloud server, the cloud server will obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile through the device identifier and send the latest charging rate of the target charging pile to the mobile terminal.

[0056] After receiving the latest charging rate from the target charging station, the mobile terminal will display a message on the interface asking the charging user to confirm whether to charge at the latest charging rate. Once the charging user confirms that the vehicle is being charged at the target charging station at the latest charging rate, the mobile terminal will send the first instruction to the cloud server.

[0057] The first instruction is used to instruct the charging user to confirm that charging will begin at the latest charging rate.

[0058] Generally, charging rates for charging stations are categorized into peak hours, off-peak hours, and weekday hours. These rates vary depending on the time of day. Peak hour rates are 1.6-1.8 yuan / kWh, off-peak rates are 0.9-1.2 yuan / kWh, and weekday rates are 1.3-1.5 yuan / kWh. During the charging process, the charging station will use the latest charging rate for each time period to calculate the charge.

[0059] Optionally, charging users can set a charging rate threshold on their mobile devices. When the charging rate is lower than this threshold, the mobile device will automatically confirm charging and generate a first instruction. When the charging station's rate is not lower than this threshold, the mobile device will display the current charging station rate information to the charging user, who will then confirm whether to proceed with charging. By setting a charging rate threshold, the charging process can be streamlined and streamlined, improving user comfort, while ensuring the charging user's rights.

[0060] S102, the mobile terminal obtains the network status of the target charging pile and establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile when the target charging pile is offline, so that the target charging pile and the cloud server can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal.

[0061] The cloud server will determine whether the target charging station is online.

[0062] In this embodiment of the application, the cloud server communicates with the target charging pile in real time via heartbeat signals.

[0063] If the cloud server does not receive a heartbeat response signal, it will determine that the charging pile is offline. The offline charging pile cannot communicate directly with the cloud server.

[0064] When the cloud server receives a heartbeat response signal, it will determine that the charging pile is online. Online charging piles can communicate directly with the cloud server.

[0065] Correspondingly, the cloud server sends updated recharge order information to the charging station, which may include:

[0066] When the charging station is online, the cloud server directly sends the updated recharge order information to the charging station.

[0067] When a charging station is offline, the cloud server sends updated recharge order information to the charging station via a mobile terminal.

[0068] The mobile terminal will establish a network connection with the cloud server and obtain the network status of the target charging pile from the cloud server. When the mobile terminal obtains that the target charging pile is offline, it will establish near-field communication with the target charging pile through the device identifier, such as establishing Bluetooth communication between the mobile terminal and the target charging pile, so that the cloud server and the target charging pile can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal.

[0069] S103, when the cloud server receives the first instruction, it sends charging order information to the target charging pile. The charging order information is used to instruct the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate.

[0070] After receiving the first instruction from the mobile terminal, the cloud server generates charging order information for the user. This information includes the latest charging rate for the target charging station and a charging instruction to initiate charging. The cloud server then sends the charging order information to the target charging station, enabling it to charge the user's vehicle at the latest charging rate specified in the order.

[0071] When the cloud server determines that the target charging station is online, it will directly send charging order information to the target charging station to initiate charging. When the cloud server determines that the target charging station is offline, it will send charging order information to the target charging station via the mobile terminal to initiate charging.

[0072] In the embodiments of this application, by establishing near-field communication between the mobile terminal and the target charging pile, the cloud server can still send charging order information to the target charging pile even when the target charging pile is offline, so as to ensure that the target charging pile can start charging normally when offline and ensure the charging reliability of the target charging pile.

[0073] S104 After receiving the charging order information, the target charging pile starts charging and generates order settlement information based on the latest rate after charging is completed, so that the charging user can settle the fee according to the order settlement information.

[0074] After receiving the charging order information, the target charging station initiates charging to charge the user's vehicle. Once charging is complete, the target charging station calculates the user's charging cost based on the charging duration and the latest charging rates for each time period, and generates order settlement information so the user can settle the payment accordingly.

[0075] Optionally, when the target charging station is online, the target charging station will directly send the order settlement information to the cloud server. The cloud server records and updates the charging information of the charging user and sends the order settlement information to the mobile terminal so that the charging user can settle the payment.

[0076] When the target charging station is offline and near-field communication is established between the target charging station and the mobile terminal, the target charging station can send the order settlement information to the cloud server through the mobile terminal. The cloud server records and updates the charging information of the charging user and sends the order settlement information to the mobile terminal so that the charging user can settle the payment.

[0077] When the target charging station is offline and near-field communication is established between the target charging station and the mobile terminal, the target charging station can directly send the order settlement information to the mobile terminal. After the charging user settles the payment, the mobile terminal sends the order settlement information to the cloud server, which facilitates the cloud server to update the data.

[0078] In most existing technologies, the cloud server handles the fee settlement. That is, the cloud server does not send the latest charging rate to the target charging pile. After the charging is completed, the charging pile sends a charging end signal to the cloud server, which then settles the charging fee based on the charging duration and the latest charging rate.

[0079] However, in some cases, charging stations may temporarily disconnect from the network due to network fluctuations, or the charging station may be unable to communicate with the cloud server due to network outages. In these situations, the cloud server cannot process billing, requiring users to wait for network connectivity to be restored, thus degrading the user's charging experience. Furthermore, settlement delays may also lead to inaccurate billing by the cloud server, resulting in losses for charging users.

[0080] To address the aforementioned issues, this application embodiment sends charging order information to the charging pile via a cloud server, and the charging pile performs local settlement after charging is completed. This eliminates the need for users to wait, ensures timely settlement, and guarantees the reliability of charging billing.

[0081] Furthermore, in actual operation, charging stations are typically set to allow charging to begin as long as the user's account has a certain balance. However, this often results in insufficient account balance to fully charge the vehicle's battery in a single charging session, leading to wasted time and a reduced charging experience. To address this issue, this application proposes several solutions to enable users to fully charge their vehicles during each charging session, thereby improving the user experience.

[0082] In embodiments of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. During the charging process at the target charging station, the method further includes:

[0083] The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and sends a first prompt message to the cloud server when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference.

[0084] Upon receiving the first notification message, the cloud server sends the first recharge notification message to the mobile terminal, updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0085] The first prompt message indicates that the current account balance of the charging user is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

[0086] The charging order information sent by the cloud server to the target charging station includes the charging user's current account balance. During the charging process, the target charging station calculates the actual charging amount in real time based on the vehicle's charging duration and the latest charging rates for each time period. If the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference, it indicates that the charging user's current account balance is insufficient and may not be enough to fully charge the vehicle. At this time, the target charging station sends a first alert to the cloud server to indicate that the charging user's current account balance may be insufficient.

[0087] After receiving the initial notification, the cloud server will generate a first recharge notification to prompt the user to recharge their account and send the notification to the mobile terminal to prompt the user to recharge.

[0088] After a user tops up their account, the cloud server updates the current account balance and the charging order information. The updated charging order information is then sent to the target charging station so that the target charging station can update the user's current account balance and ensure continued charging.

[0089] For example, a user's current account balance is 40 yuan, and the first difference is 10 yuan. During the charging process, the target charging station calculates the actual charging amount in real time. When the actual charging amount is 31 yuan, 40-31=9<10. Therefore, the target charging station will generate a first prompt message and send it to the cloud server. After receiving the first prompt message, the cloud server will generate a first recharge prompt message to remind the user to recharge their account and send the first recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal.

[0090] After receiving the first recharge prompt, the mobile terminal will send a notification or pop-up window to remind the user to recharge.

[0091] The first recharge prompt message can be "It is recommended that users recharge, with a minimum recharge of 50 yuan", or it can be "It is recommended that users recharge".

[0092] This application embodiment uses a cloud server to determine whether the charging user's account balance meets the charging needs. If it does not, the user is reminded to recharge to avoid charging being stopped due to insufficient account balance, thus preventing the user's vehicle from being undercharged and ensuring the charging reliability of the user.

[0093] In the embodiments of this application, when the target charging pile is online, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference, the target charging pile will directly send a first prompt message to the cloud server.

[0094] When the target charging station is offline and near-field communication is established between the target charging station and the mobile terminal, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference, the target charging station will send a first prompt message to the cloud server through the mobile terminal.

[0095] In some embodiments of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. When the target charging pile is offline and the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile, the method further includes:

[0096] Within the preset charging time, the target charging pile predicts the theoretical charging amount for the user. If the current account balance is less than the theoretical charging amount, a second prompt message is sent to the cloud server via the mobile terminal.

[0097] When the cloud server receives the second notification message, it sends a second recharge notification message to the mobile terminal, updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0098] The second prompt message indicates that the user's current account balance is insufficient, and the second recharge prompt message suggests that the user recharge their account balance to at least the theoretical full amount.

[0099] After the user confirms charging, and the target charging station goes offline, the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging station. At this time, during the period after the target charging station starts charging, the target charging station will predict the theoretical charging amount for the user's full charge.

[0100] When the current account balance is less than the predicted theoretical charging amount, the target charging station will send a second prompt message to the cloud server via the mobile terminal to indicate to the cloud server that, based on the prediction, the current account balance of the charging user may not be sufficient to meet the charging needs for this charging session.

[0101] After receiving the second notification message, the cloud server will generate a second recharge notification message and send it to the mobile terminal to inform the user that, based on predictions, the current account balance may not be sufficient for this recharge and to suggest that the user recharge more.

[0102] After a user tops up their account to ensure their current balance is not less than the theoretical full charge amount, the cloud server updates the current account balance and the charging order information. The updated charging order information is then sent to the target charging station so that the target charging station can update the user's current account balance and ensure continued charging.

[0103] Optionally, the second recharge prompt message can be the same as the first recharge message, such as both being "It is recommended that the user recharge". Alternatively, the second recharge prompt message can be different from the first recharge message, indicating that the second recharge prompt message is based on prediction. For example, the second recharge prompt message could be "Based on prediction, the current account balance is insufficient to meet the charging needs for this time. Please recharge", while the first recharge prompt message remains "It is recommended that the user recharge".

[0104] In the embodiments of this application, the target charging pile predicts the theoretical charging amount for the user within a preset charging time, including:

[0105] The target charging station predicts the theoretical charging amount of the user based on the rate of increase of the charging current within a preset time period, and calculates the theoretical full charge amount for the user based on the latest charging rate and the theoretical charging amount.

[0106] The target charging station will output different charging currents depending on the remaining battery level. Therefore, within the preset charging start time, the target charging station will predict the remaining battery level of the user's vehicle based on the rate of increase in charging current, such as if the vehicle's current battery level is 40%. Then, the charging amount can be calculated based on the remaining battery level, for example, if it's 60%. Finally, the theoretical cost of a full charge is calculated based on the charging amount and the maximum rate in the latest charging rate information.

[0107] This application embodiment calculates and predicts the theoretical charging amount within a preset time after the target charging pile is started. When the theoretical charging amount is insufficient, it promptly reminds the charging user to recharge. It also reminds the charging user before they have gone far, which can avoid charging stopping due to insufficient account balance and the target charging pile being offline, thus ensuring charging reliability.

[0108] In embodiments of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. Before the target charging station starts charging, the method further includes:

[0109] The cloud server predicts the estimated charging amount for a user based on their historical charging information. If the user's current account balance is less than the estimated charging amount, the server sends a third recharge prompt to the mobile terminal and updates the charging order information after the user recharges.

[0110] The third recharge prompt message is used to suggest that users recharge their account balance to at least the estimated full amount.

[0111] After the target charging station receives the charging order information sent by the cloud server, before charging starts, the cloud server will predict the estimated charging cost based on the charging user's historical charging information.

[0112] The estimated charging amount can be the minimum charging amount to ensure a vehicle is fully charged, or the maximum charging amount within a preset standard duration based on the highest charging rate, or the maximum charging amount within a preset standard duration based on the average charging rate over a year. The specific setting can be customized based on actual circumstances; the estimated charging amount is a predicted amount.

[0113] Optionally, when the target charging station is offline and the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging station, the cloud server can directly send a third recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal to remind the charging user to recharge when it determines that the current account balance of the charging user is less than the estimated full charge amount.

[0114] After a user tops up their account, the cloud server updates the charging order information and sends the updated information to the target charging station via the mobile terminal, enabling the target charging station to continue the charging process.

[0115] In this embodiment, before charging begins, the cloud server predicts the estimated charging amount and reminds the user to top up if their account balance is insufficient. Especially when the target charging station is offline, this ensures that the user is immediately notified of insufficient balance after agreeing to charge, allowing them to charge more initially without needing to monitor the charging process further. This is more user-friendly and ensures charging reliability even when the target charging station is offline.

[0116] In embodiments of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. When the target charging station starts charging and is offline, the method further includes:

[0117] The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a second preset difference, it controls itself to charge the user's vehicle at offline power, which is less than the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0118] After the target charging station starts charging, if the target charging station goes offline and the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a second preset difference, it indicates that the current account balance is about to be depleted. To reduce the chance of the charging station stopping when it runs out of power, the target charging station will reduce its output power and charge the user's vehicle at offline power, while waiting for the target charging station to come back online to remind the user to recharge.

[0119] Optionally, the offline power can be dynamically set. The offline power can be set to 20% or 50% of the power of the charging pile just before it goes offline, depending on the actual situation.

[0120] In embodiments of this application, after the target charging pile controls itself to charge the vehicle of the charging user at offline power, the method further includes:

[0121] After determining that the target charging pile has been restored to online status, it sends the first notification message to the cloud server.

[0122] Upon receiving the first notification message, the cloud server sends a first recharge notification message to the mobile terminal. After the charging user recharges, the server updates the charging order information and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile. The first notification message indicates that the charging user's current account balance is insufficient, and the first recharge notification message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

[0123] After receiving the updated charging order information, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is not less than the second preset difference, the target charging pile will control itself to charge the user's vehicle at normal power. Normal power is the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0124] When the target charging station's offline balance is insufficient, it will reduce its power to charge the user's vehicle using the offline power. Once the target charging station returns to online status, it will send an initial recharge notification to the cloud server.

[0125] After receiving the initial notification, the cloud server will generate a first recharge notification to prompt the user to recharge their account and send the notification to the mobile terminal to prompt the user to recharge.

[0126] After a user tops up their account, the cloud server updates the current account balance and the charging order information, and then sends the updated charging order information to the target charging station.

[0127] After receiving the updated charging order information, the target charging pile determines that the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is not less than the second preset difference. Then, it controls its output power to be restored from offline power to online power to ensure that the charging pile continues to charge.

[0128] During use, the target charging station may lose connection with the cloud server due to network fluctuations. Most existing charging stations will stop charging after losing contact with the cloud server. After the charging station reconnects to the cloud server, the charging user needs to go to the charging station to re-plug and unplug the charging gun to start charging. However, the charging user may be shopping or at work, making it difficult to go to the site to re-plug and unplug the charging gun. Without restarting, the vehicle cannot start, affecting the user's vehicle use.

[0129] To address the aforementioned issues, this application embodiment monitors the charging pile's connection to the cloud server. When offline and with insufficient balance, the charging pile reduces its charging power rather than stopping output. Once the charging pile reconnects to the cloud server and the user recharges, the charging pile resumes normal power. The entire process requires no power outage of the charging pile or the user to unplug and plug in the charging gun, ensuring charging sustainability, demonstrating a high degree of intelligence, improving charging efficiency, and guaranteeing charging reliability.

[0130] This application embodiment settles the charging fees for users through charging piles, with no delay, accurate calculation, and the ability to settle fees even when the charging pile is disconnected from the network, ensuring a smooth charging process for users.

[0131] This application embodiment reduces the probability of charging piles stopping charging when they are offline by implementing reduced power charging. The charging power is restored after the charging pile is back online, eliminating the need for users to unplug and plug in the charging gun. This high level of intelligence can improve user engagement.

[0132] It should be understood that the sequence number of each step in the above embodiments does not imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0133] The following are device embodiments of this application. For details not described in detail, please refer to the corresponding method embodiments described above.

[0134] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the charging device provided in an embodiment of this application is shown. For ease of explanation, only the parts related to the embodiment of this application are shown, and are described in detail below:

[0135] like Figure 2 As shown, the charging device 20 may include:

[0136] The first control module 201 is used to control the mobile terminal of the charging user to obtain the device identifier of the target charging pile and communicate with the cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and send a first instruction to the cloud server to indicate and confirm that charging is started at the latest charging rate.

[0137] The second control module 202 is used to control the mobile terminal to obtain the network status of the target charging pile and establish near-field communication with the target charging pile when the target charging pile is offline, so that the target charging pile and the cloud server can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal.

[0138] The third control module 203 is used to control the cloud server to send charging order information to the target charging pile when it receives the first instruction. The charging order information is used to instruct the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate.

[0139] The fourth control module 204 is used to control the target charging pile to start charging after receiving the charging order information, and to generate order settlement information according to the latest rate after charging is completed, so that the charging user can settle the fee according to the order settlement information.

[0140] In one embodiment of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user, and the device 20 may further include:

[0141] The fifth control module is used to control the target charging pile to calculate the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time during the charging process, and to send a first prompt message to the cloud server when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference.

[0142] The sixth control module is used to control the cloud server to send the first recharge prompt information to the mobile terminal when it receives the first prompt information, and to update the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and send the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0143] The first prompt message indicates that the current account balance of the charging user is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

[0144] In one embodiment of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user, and the device 20 may further include:

[0145] The seventh control module is used to control the target charging pile to predict the theoretical full charge amount for the user within a preset charging start time when the target charging pile is offline and the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile. When the current account balance is less than the theoretical full charge amount, the module sends a second prompt message to the cloud server through the mobile terminal.

[0146] The eighth control module is used to control the cloud server to send a second recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal when it receives the second prompt message, and to update the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and send the updated charging order information to the target charging pile.

[0147] The second prompt message indicates that the user's current account balance is insufficient, and the second recharge prompt message suggests that the user recharge their account balance to at least the theoretical full amount.

[0148] In one embodiment of this application, the seventh control module is specifically used to control the target charging pile to predict the theoretical charging amount of the charging user within a preset time period based on the rate of increase of the charging current, and to calculate the theoretical full charge amount of the charging user based on the latest charging rate and the theoretical charging amount.

[0149] In one embodiment of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user, and the device 20 may further include:

[0150] The ninth control module is used to control the cloud server to predict the estimated charging amount of the charging user based on the charging user's historical charging information before the target charging pile starts charging. When the charging user's current account balance is less than the estimated charging amount, the module sends a third recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal and updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges.

[0151] The third recharge prompt message is used to suggest that users recharge their account balance to at least the estimated full amount.

[0152] In one embodiment of this application, the charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user, and the device 20 may further include:

[0153] The tenth control module is used to control the target charging pile to calculate the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time when the target charging pile starts charging and is offline. When the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a second preset difference, the module controls itself to charge the user's vehicle at offline power, which is less than the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0154] In one embodiment of this application, the device 20 may further include:

[0155] The eleventh control module is used to control the target charging pile to charge the vehicles of the charging users at offline power after the target charging pile controls itself to charge the vehicles at offline power, and to send the first prompt information to the cloud server after determining that the target charging pile has been restored to online status.

[0156] The twelfth control module is used to control the cloud server to send a first recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal when it receives the first prompt message, and to update the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and send the updated charging order information to the target charging pile; wherein, the first prompt message is used to indicate that the charging user's current account balance is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message is used to prompt the charging user to recharge the account;

[0157] The thirteenth control module is used to control the target charging pile to charge the user's vehicle at normal power after receiving the updated charging order information, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is not less than the second preset difference. Normal power is the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

[0158] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the charging controller provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 As shown, the charging controller 30 of this embodiment includes a processor 300 and a memory 301. The memory 301 stores a computer program 302 that can run on the processor 300. When the processor 300 executes the computer program 302, it implements the steps in the various charging method embodiments described above. Alternatively, when the processor 300 executes the computer program 302, it implements the functions of each module in the various device embodiments described above.

[0159] For example, computer program 302 may be divided into one or more modules / units, one or more of which are stored in memory 301 and executed by processor 300 to complete this application. One or more modules / units may be a series of computer program instruction segments capable of performing specific functions, which describe the execution process of computer program 302 in charging controller 30.

[0160] The charging controller 30 may include, but is not limited to, a processor 300 and a memory 301. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 3 This is merely an example of the charging controller 30 and does not constitute a limitation on the charging controller 30. It may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or different components. For example, the charging controller may also include input / output devices, network access devices, buses, etc.

[0161] The processor 300 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0162] The memory 301 can be an internal storage unit of the charging controller 30, such as a hard disk or RAM of the charging controller 30. The memory 301 can also be an external storage device of the charging controller 30, such as a plug-in hard disk, smart media card (SMC), secure digital card (SD), flash card, etc., equipped on the charging controller 30. Furthermore, the memory 301 can include both internal and external storage units of the charging controller 30. The memory 301 is used to store computer programs and other programs and data required by the charging controller. The memory 301 can also be used to temporarily store data that has been output or will be output.

[0163] Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the above-described division of functional units and modules is merely an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional units and modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional units or modules to complete all or part of the functions described above. The functional units and modules in the embodiments can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit. Furthermore, the specific names of the functional units and modules are only for easy differentiation and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. The specific working process of the units and modules in the above system can be referred to the corresponding process in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0164] This application also provides a charging system, including the charging controller 30 as described above. The charging controller 30 controls the charging pile, cloud server, and mobile terminal to perform corresponding charging interaction actions, thereby enabling reliable charging for users and improving their charging experience.

[0165] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail or recorded in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0166] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0167] In the embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed device / charging controller and method can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device / charging controller embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0168] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0169] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0170] If an integrated module / unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can also be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed by a processor, it can implement the steps of the various charging method embodiments described above. The computer program includes computer program code, which can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or certain intermediate forms. The computer-readable medium can include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording media, USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, optical disks, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution media, etc.

[0171] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A charging method, characterized in that, include: The charging user's mobile terminal obtains the device identifier of the target charging pile and communicates with the cloud server to which the target charging pile belongs, so as to obtain the latest charging rate of the target charging pile according to the device identifier, and sends a first instruction to the cloud server to indicate and confirm that charging is started at the latest charging rate. The mobile terminal obtains the network status of the target charging pile and establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile when the target charging pile is offline, so that the target charging pile and the cloud server can communicate with each other through the mobile terminal; When the cloud server receives the first instruction, it sends charging order information to the target charging pile. The charging order information is used to instruct the target charging pile to start charging at the latest charging rate. After receiving the charging order information, the target charging pile starts charging and generates order settlement information based on the latest charging rate after charging is completed, so that the charging user can settle the fee according to the order settlement information. The charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. When the target charging station starts charging and is offline, the method further includes: The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a second preset difference, it controls itself to charge the charging user's vehicle at offline power, where offline power is less than the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online. Once the target charging station is determined to be back online and the charging user has made a recharge, the system controls itself to charge the user's vehicle at normal charging power.

2. The charging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. During the charging process at the target charging station, the method further includes: The target charging pile calculates the actual charging amount of the charging user in real time, and sends a first prompt message to the cloud server when the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is less than a first preset difference. When the cloud server receives the first prompt message, it sends the first recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal, and after the charging user recharges, it updates the charging order information and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile. The first prompt message indicates that the current account balance of the charging user is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message prompts the charging user to recharge their account.

3. The charging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. When the target charging pile is offline and the mobile terminal establishes near-field communication with the target charging pile, the method further includes: Within a preset charging time, the target charging pile predicts the theoretical charging amount for the user. If the current account balance is less than the theoretical charging amount, a second prompt message is sent to the cloud server via the mobile terminal. When the cloud server receives the second prompt message, it sends a second recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal, updates the charging order information after the charging user recharges, and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile. The second prompt message indicates that the user's current account balance is estimated to be insufficient, and the second recharge prompt message suggests that the user recharge their account balance to at least the theoretical full charge amount.

4. The charging method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Within a preset charging timeframe, the target charging station predicts the theoretical charging amount for the user, including: The target charging station predicts the theoretical charging amount of the user within a preset time period based on the rate of increase of the charging current, and calculates the theoretical full charge amount for the user based on the latest charging rate and the theoretical charging amount.

5. The charging method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The charging order information includes the current account balance of the charging user. Before the target charging station starts charging, the method further includes: The cloud server predicts the estimated charging amount for the user based on the user's historical charging information. When the user's current account balance is less than the estimated charging amount, the cloud server sends a third recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal and updates the charging order information after the user recharges. The third recharge prompt information is used to suggest that the charging user recharge their account balance to at least the estimated full charge amount.

6. The charging method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of controlling the system to charge the user's vehicle at normal charging power after the target charging station is determined to be back online and the user has recharged their account includes: After determining that the target charging pile has resumed online status, it sends a first notification message to the cloud server. When the cloud server receives the first prompt message, it sends a first recharge prompt message to the mobile terminal, and after the charging user recharges, it updates the charging order information and sends the updated charging order information to the target charging pile; wherein, the first prompt message is used to indicate that the charging user's current account balance is insufficient, and the first recharge prompt message is used to prompt the charging user to recharge their account. After receiving the updated charging order information, if the difference between the current account balance and the actual charging amount is not less than a second preset difference, the target charging pile will control itself to charge the user's vehicle at normal power, where normal power is the normal charging power output by the target charging pile when it is online.

7. A charging controller, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that runs on the processor, characterized in that, When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the steps of the charging method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 above.

8. A charging system, characterized in that, Includes the charging controller as described in claim 7.

9. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the steps of the charging method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 above.

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